Wide consultation begins on academic plan

The Provost and the Academic Plan Steering Committee are circulating a draft set of objectives and action items to begin a wide consultation process across the university for the eventual creation of Concordia’s next academic plan.

The draft document has been in the works since September 2010. It focuses on how the university puts into action the commitments, articulated in the Strategic Framework, to high-quality academic work, an outstanding student experience, and strong community engagement.

The plan also recommends strategies for ensuring sound academic administration. It identifies five main objectives along with supporting actions for each of these objectives and some indicators that can be used to mark progress. The action plan will provide the blueprint for Concordia’s drive to become a top-tier comprehensive university.

The working group that produced the draft plan included faculty members from each of the Faculties. The document reflects recommendations contained in the two reports on teaching assessment and core competencies led by Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning, Ollivier Dyens during the 2009–10 academic year.

“After the draft action plan is circulated,” says Provost David Graham, “I will be visiting Faculty Councils or equivalent meetings with Louise Dandurand, Vice-President of Research and Graduate Studies, and Brad Tucker, chair of the academic plan working group, to discuss the document and respond to whatever questions and comments anyone may wish to direct our way. The document will also be discussed at Senate. In recognition of the importance of input from academic departments, the Steering Committee will be asking chairs to facilitate discussions of the draft plan in their departments.”
Subsequent drafts will reflect the results of these discussions, and a final plan will be brought to the Board of Governors, ideally by May or June of 2011.

“I am committed to ensuring the widest and most effective consultation possible, one that makes available multiple ways for all colleagues to communicate their views. You can be sure that your views will reach me,” says Graham to the Concordia community, “and that they will be taken into account as the plan is reshaped through the spring. I look forward to reading and reflecting on your comments during this important process.”

An online forum for submitting comments about the document is available on the academic planning website.

The Provost has already hosted two Open to Question sessions for face-to face discussion of the draft plan. The third session will be held on:

• March 4 from 3 to 4 p.m. in Room H-435, Henry F. Hall Building (1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd. W.)

See a welcome video to the consultation process with Provost David Graham:

Related link:
•  Office of the Provost